Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie vs Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Club Med vs Velas Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.0 | 9.2 |
| Star Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 300 | 539 |
| Restaurants | 2 | 8 |
| Pools | 6 | 4 |
| Year Opened | 1966 | 2008 |
| Year Renovated | 2024 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | No |
| Beach Access | No | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | Yes |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 8 | 15 |
| Included | 8 | 15 |
| Extra Charge | 0 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 8 | 11 |
| Suite Categories | 1 | 11 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie | Grand Velas Riviera Maya |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 25 | 23 |
| Included | 18 | 17 |
| Extra Charge | 7 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie
Pros
- The free shuttle to Jemaa el-Fna runs multiple times daily — this lets you experience the medina's chaos and return to the palm grove tranquility, which is the ideal way to do Marrakech
- Evening entertainment including the garden party with acrobats is genuinely impressive for a Club Med — guests specifically cite it over standard nightly shows
- The El Kebir restaurant under olive trees is the kind of dining experience that distinguishes the property — the dinner tagine service feels distinctly Moroccan rather than generic resort food
Cons
- The Family Oasis (Ksar) rooms are farthest from the main pool and restaurants — a real logistical inconvenience with strollers and young children, particularly in summer heat
- The family pool consistently runs cold based on guest reports — a significant downside if you're booking specifically for young water-loving children
- Wine selection is limited to Moroccan and French labels only; guests expecting global wine variety will be disappointed
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Pros
- Cocina de Autor is the first all-inclusive restaurant in the world to earn both a MICHELIN star and AAA Five Diamond — included in the rate
- SE Spa with Forbes Five Stars, 90,000+ square feet, and 40+ treatment suites is one of the largest and most awarded resort spas in Mexico
- Three distinct ambiances mean guests in Zen Grand have a completely different resort experience from guests in Grand Class — useful for multi-room group bookings
- Tulum ruins are 15 minutes away and cenote tours are easy half-day excursions from this location
Cons
- Zen Grand suites are three-quarters of a mile from the beach — the shuttle runs frequently but beach access requires active planning
- Cocina de Autor and Piaf book up as far as 6 months in advance in peak season — call before arrival rather than assuming on-arrival booking
- Premium pricing at the top of the Riviera Maya all-inclusive market — the quality justifies it but the commitment is real
Summary
Grand Velas Riviera Maya has a higher guest rating, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more restaurants, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the larger property, while Grand Velas Riviera Maya has more dining venues, while Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie offers more activities.